The Binding String

T H I R T Y - E I G H T

"Jeeju I'm scared for Raman."

"He is fine Ishita. Woh....woh theek hai. He is in Zurich now." Bala blurted the truth at last leaving Ishita astonished.

"How do you know?"

"He texted me Ishita." Bala replied skeptically somewhere having idea the reaction he will receive from Ishita.

"He texted you? When?"

"Two.....two months back."

"And you're telling me now? That's unbelievable Jeeju."

"Ishu I had no idea that your fool husband didn't informed you. Tujhe lagta hai agar mujhe pata hota toh main tujhe nahi batata." The astonished was a small word to define Ishita's state after she came to know Raman's behaviour for her. She never imagined if her husband can be turned so cold and ignorant towards her. She laughed with heavy hearts with tears in her eyes recalling the empty days and sleepless nights she spend without him, praying for his wellbeing without caring of her own health and after months what she got?

Pure betrayal.

If he alleged her for being unfaithful wife towards him than he is not less. Her husband, mighty Raman Bhalla is same. Even he failed to perform the duty a responsible husband supposed to, "Phenomenal. He texted you about his whereabouts but he cannot take the pain to inform me about same. Here I'm living like a dead worrying about him aur usko koi farak nahi padta hai?" She sarcastically clapped her hands laughing over her state.

"You told me he is not like that man but he is Jeeju. Infact he is worse." Ishita spoke carrying a loathe in her tone and hatred in her eyes. "He want me to die for him in his absence, fell in his feet, beg for his forgiveness but I won't  do that Jeeju. I know how to gives back." An enraged Ishita immediately blocked all the contact numbers and email id's of her husband and threw her phone aside. "The tear days will end from today itself." Her words sounded like she vowed to end whatever she had with Raman in those seconds.

"Ishu listen. Don't make decision out of anger." Bala tried to stop Ishita bit she already strode towards kitchen and boiling water for tea.

"No Jeeju I'm not fool here to kill myself for man like him. If he wants to live with his fake pride than let him be. I won't destroy my peace for him." Ishita said further in authoritive tone showing no emotions on her face. "He thinks himself a narcissist but I will prove him that I does not need him at all." Ishita replied fuming with anger. Her behaviour was not at all new for Bala, he knew how much hot tempered Ishita is. She is an emotional woman and yes, she won't bear the exploitation of her emotions at all. Bala didn't remembered if Ishita shed tears for someone like today, she never chose to showcase her emotions to anyone but today when he saw her crying for her husband he understood Ishita holds something in her heart for Raman.

And maybe that something is love.

Bala made Ishita sit along him and passed her chocolate to eat before continuing, "chal leave all this and come with me. You remember that today is Varlakshmi Pooja at home. Your sister had organised big pooja today and all the ladies of our community are invited there."

"So that everyone including your beloved mother in law can taunt me about what kind of pathetic wife I am who don't keep any fast for her husband?" Ishita snorted with irritation munching her favourite chocolates making Bala sigh. He silently drank his tea and kept looking at Ishita hoping her anger melted down but he frowned his brows when he saw her coming out from her room, dressed in sleeveless top and jeans carrying a sling bag along.

"Where are you going?"

"Mall. It's been ages I stepped out from home except going to university. I have to repair my two-wheeler as well. Jeeju please come with me till workshop. It's near to our apartments." Bala sighted knowing well Ishita is not going to listen him anymore. He nodded his head and they both exited the apartment. Bala planned to talk Ishita after few days but his all the attempts went unfruitful otherside Ishita started to look happy to eveyrone, she increased sleepover at her friends place and also started to go out for occasional drinks with her female friends, everyone thought she is back to normal but she wasn't. Each day the ache in her heart being left alone was making her feel sick, the marriage ring in her finger, the bracelet Raman gifted her on their wedding night and nuptial chain around her neck started to make her feel suffocated. Earlier she treated marriage as an escape from her mother and her expectations, a ticket to freedom from the boundaries her maternal family set for her, an expectation of better life which will keep her away from emotional and financial crisis she faced during her entire life and there would be no one to whom she need to prove her worth just because she is a girl.